10 Days /9 Nights

DAY 1: Dublin City: On arrival, pick up your hire car and make your way to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival you may want to explore the city. Why not include a city walking tour with a local guide to learn about the history, life and culture of Dublin. You may also want to include a visit to one of the distilleries in Dublin. If Whiskey is not for you, head just north of the city centre to Croke Park Stadium, the home of Ireland’s largest sporting and cultural organization, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) for a guided tour and hear about the unique national games of hurling and Gaelic football and how these amateur sports really are at the heart of every community in Ireland. This evening, you have the option to include a traditional Irish evening of food, song and dancing. Overnight: Dublin area

DAY 2 : Ancient East : This morning head north of Dublin to the Boyne Valley to see some of the world’s most mythical landscapes. Include a visit to Slane Irish Distillery, as part of the Slane Castle Estate, there could be no finer setting in which to discover the nature of whiskey. Following your distillery tour, head west to the midlands of Ireland to continue your discovery of the mythical past of Ireland by experiencing a guided tour of the Hill of Uisneach. Having played a part in just about every significant Irish event, be it political, cultural, religious, mythological and geographical. The centre of Ireland in many ways, this enigmatic hill is one of the most sacred and historic sanctuaries in the world. Make a stop at the ancient Clonmacnoise Monastic site on the banks of the River Shannon. This settlement was founded in the 6^th Century and became a great centre of religion and learning and was visited by scholars from all over the world. Continue your journey west to your accommodation. Overnight: Mayo area

DAY 3: Mayo: Today head to north County Mayo and come into the  kitchen to have an authentic, hands on Irish baking experience. Learn how to prepare traditional foods such as scones, potato cake or traditional Guinness bread. Relax back in the dining room when the baking is finished with a cup of tea and enjoy the food you have just prepared. As you continue your journey today, and for the next few days along the Western coast of Ireland you will travel through what is known as Gaeltacht areas – where the Irish language is the main spoken language of a substantial number of the local population. Explore Achill Island off the coast of Mayo – accessible by road. Achill Island is the largest of all islands off the coast of Ireland and not only does the island offer spectacularly beautiful views, but it also rewards visitors with equally spectacularly beaches. Return to your hotel. Overnight: Mayo area

DAY 4: Inishbofin: Set sail off the coast of Galway at Cleggan Pier, on a short ferry ride to the remote island of Inishbofin, one of the most westerly islands off the Irish coastline. On arrival on the island stop to collect your bike hire before setting off to explore. Inishbofin features all the best that Galway has to offer; a rich history, stunning Atlantic coast scenery, spectacular walks and award winning beaches with crystal clear waters. You will have the extraordinary chance to come in contact with some of Ireland’s best preserved heritage; Bronze Age landscapes, Cromwell’s 17th century star-shaped fort, ancient burial grounds and a ruined 13th century church standing on the grounds of the original 7th century monastery founded by St. Colman. Three island walking Loops also afford panoramic views of the Connemara Mountains and the island’s cliffs, sea stacks and seal colonies. Return by ferry to Galway and continue to your hotel. Overnight: Galway area

DAY 5: Galway City: Explore Galway today, this wild and bohemian city, is full of culture, artistry, exceptional food and music. As well as being a popular seaside destination with long sandy beaches, Galway is also a thriving and cosmopolitan city centre.  You might even want to include a culinary walking tour of Galway, exploring the famous food culture and taking in some of the city’s best known and secret food haunts. This evening make your way to Doolin to join a night of music, stories and laughter and experience authentic, traditional Irish Music and heartfelt toe tapping rhythms all in the comfort and relaxed surroundings of the musician’s home. Overnight: Clare area

DAY 6: Burren: Today explore the Burren region – stretching across northern Clare, the rocky, windswept Burren region is a unique striated lunar-like landscape with a wildly diverse ecosystem. Of Ireland’s 900 native plants species, the Burren is home to 70% – including artic plants brought to Ireland by glaciers in the last Ice Age. Pay a visit to the Burren Smokehouse for a demonstration of the smoking process and explanation of the ancient smoking techniques used and how these have influenced their own patented technique – and an all-important tasting of the hot and cold smoked salmon. Why not combine this with a visit to the Burren Brewery and a beer tasting session with the Master Brewer, the beer uses local wild botanicals from the Burren region. The beer tasting can be paired with the smoked salmon also. Continue south to County Kerry for your overnight. Overnight: Kerry area

DAY 7 : Dingle Peninsula: Discover the Dingle Peninsula on Ireland’s southwest Atlantic coast, once described by National Geographic as “the most beautiful place on earth” it begs to be explored. Dingle town is arguably one of the island’s most charming towns. Eclectic little fashion and jewelry shops on Green Street give way to intimate and cosy pubs with live traditional music a regular occurrence. The local gin was awarded the top prize at the World Gin Awards in 2019, having only launched in 2012 it is quite a feat! You might want to  take a boat tour to see if you can spot the resident celebrity –Fungie the Dolphin who has called Dingle Harbour his home since 1984. Return to your accommodation. Overnight: Kerry area

DAY 8: Killarney: Spend time today in Killarney, you might want to explore the town with its shops and restaurants, and take a traditional jaunting car around the town which is the perfect and unique option to show you the hidden delights of Killarney National Park and the famous Lakes of Killarney. This evening, why not include an Irish Whiskey Experience– a sensory and interactive experience that guides visitors through the history of Irish distilling, the process and a comparative tasting of delicious Irish whiskeys – paired with local farmhouse Irish cheeses. Overnight: Kerry area

DAY 9: Dublin: It is time to start the journey east again. Make your way back to Dublin and if time allows why not include a visit to EPIC –the Irish Emigration Museum and experience not only what it means to be Irish, but the impact the 10 million Irish men and women who left Ireland had on the world. Another option to include on your last evening in Dublin is the National Leprechaun Museum – a storytelling experience filled with fun and folklore and a chance to immerse yourself in the Otherworld, home of leprechauns and other mythical creatures. Overnight: Dublin area

DAY 10: Departure: Transfer to the airport and take your flight back home.

INCLUDED VISITS:

• Traditional Irish Evening in Dublin
• Entry to GAA Museum
• Connoisseur Experience at Guinness Storehouse
• Entry & tasting at Slane Distillery
• Private guided tour at Hill of Uisneach
• Entry to Clonmacnoise
• Irish Baking Lesson in Mayo
• Ferry & Bike hire on Inishbofin
• Guided Galway Food Tour
• Irish Music & Story Telling night in Doolin
• Burren Smokehouse demonstration and Burren Brewery tasting
• Irish Coffee making at Foynes
• Entry & tasting at Dingle Gin Distillery
• Dingle Boat Tour
• Irish Whiskey and food pairing experience in Killarney
• Day trip by Jaunting Car to Gap of Dunloe in Killarney
• Entrance to Epic the Irish Emmigration Museum
• Entrance to Leprechaun Museum in Dublin

PRICE INCLUDES:

• 9 Nights 4* Accommodation on a bed & full Irish Breakfast
• 10 days car rental
• Dinner on one evening at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
• Entrances and visits as listed

*Package descriptions and pricing are subject to change without notice.

Contact Us at 800-621-2259 or info@tourcrafters.com to book today!